California can lead the Nation out of this Depression by legalizing Marijuana

A grainy black-and-white film fills the dark room. The audience shifts in their seats nervously as a young woman walks into her room and looks in the mirror and suddenly starts to scream! The words "Marijuana Madness" appear on the top of the screen.

The myths are starting to lift like fog dissipating in the light of day. The lies and racist reasons for making marijuana illegal are dropping out of the sky like a steady rain, forming puddles destined to dry up.

Californians, and the other states that allow medical marijuana, have received some good news. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano's landmark bill (AB 390) to tax and regulate marijuana just like alcohol and tobacco is being considered by state lawmakers.

This is a legitimate effort to legalize marijuana. The bill would make recreational use of marijuana legal. Users would have to be 21 years old, the same as for alcohol and tobacco. It wouldn't change the medical marijuana guidelines for those involved in that growing industry, according to Ammiano.

Organizations like NORML, who sponsored the bill, have fought for years to achieve the present level of tolerance for pot smokers in America. A recent Zogby Poll said 44 percent of Americans would support taxing and regulating pot. (See www.norml.org ) A February CBS/New York Times poll reported 41 percent of Americans support legalizing marijuana.

For decades our famous "Emerald Triangle" has produced some of the best marijuana in the world, easily establishing a reputation as "the kind" for experienced smokers. The different strains, with imaginative names, are consistently rated top-notch in worldwide marijuana competitions like the famous "Cannabis Cup" (now in its 22nd year) sponsored by High Times magazine and held in Amsterdam.

I can see tourism picking up for the entire state, and especially for the Emerald Triangle. "Green Tours" would have a new meaning. More importantly, legalizing marijuana would put an end to the Mexican cartels who infest our state and national forests with their huge destructive grows. Cartels are about making money, and if they lose their market, they'll move on.

If there was any one event that prompted the Obama administration to stop Justice Department raids on medical marijuana clubs, it may have been the Ken Estes story. Estes, a quadriplegic and single parent in Contra Costa County, was the target of repeated raids (after President Obama came to office) that not only closed his business, but also took his car and money and threatened to take his home and children. The outrage that arose from this incident reverberated throughout America.

What happened to Estes, who contributed to society by creating jobs and paying taxes, seemed to strike a note loud enough for the new Attorney General, Eric Holder, to hear. He told the press that the Justice Department will honor President Obama's campaign promise to stop the raids on state legal medical marijuana clubs.

According to NORML, Californians consume $1-$2 billion worth of medical marijuana per year, enough to generate some $100 million in sales tax. According to a state analysis the tax would net $1.3 billion a year if this legislation passes.

There's no way to tell how many California residents smoke pot, but according to the Zogby Poll "Fifty-eight percent of respondents residing on the West Coast agree that cannabis should be taxed and legally regulated like alcohol and cigarettes."

The failing national economy makes headlines every day across America. Wouldn't it be nice to lead the country out of this depression with an unprecedented economic recovery in California? We could be the model and other states would follow with similar legislation.

California could once again become the nation's leader in new industries, creating jobs in every sector. Our currently illegal crops could also be used for hemp clothing, oil, and the other byproducts of this bountiful plant. Jobs would be created and we'd save money in so many ways.

Betty Yee, who chairs the state Board of Equalization, which collects the sales tax in California, is in favor of this landmark legislation.

Right now Californians pay $170 million a year for arrests, prosecution and imprisonment of pot offenders, according to statistics released from NORML. Poof! That would go up in smoke, and reduce the prison population as well.

Right now there's talk among lawmakers of an early release program for as many as 58,000 prisoners in the next couple of years because of overcrowding and fiscal shortfalls. There are plenty of good reasons to support AB 390.

As It Stands, it's time to legalize marijuana and jumpstart California's sagging economy into the 21st century.

Dave Stancliff is a columnist for The Times-Standard. He is a former newspaper publisher and editor. Comments can be sent to richstan1@suddenlink.net or davesblogcentral.com.